Chapter Twenty One
The Prince Fights

Raw energy seethed inside Rael's body; a pure, living energy. In front of him were four heavily armed Ramadesian Gerudos, preparing themselves to take him down. Their plate mail armour was thick, and their shields painted with a bright blue. In their hands they held long metal maces, which they were bracing ready to attack him with. "I am Prince Rael Nohansen," he said, rising to his feet and pulling his sword from the ground. "If you must fight, then you shall fight me. I am the Lord of Dawn, and I will see this country united against the Kairin, no matter what the cost."

He lifted his empty right hand and a ball of fire burst into being at his fingertips, quickly growing to the size of a head. "Hear me Ramades!" he shouted into the crowd, projecting his voice upon invisible air horns once again. "I do not know where you are, but you should know that I will not stop my attack your people until you sound your horns for surrender. If there is death to be had on your account, then it is your own people who shall suffer!"

With that, he threw himself into Ramades armed men, hurling a fireball ahead of himself. The impact knocked the men in front of him to the ground immediately, their armour and shields scorched black from the heat. His blade moved swiftly, coming down upon the exposed neck of one soldier, as he bounded through the air, jumping his own full height and landing in between the mass of Ramades' frontline soldiers. He extended out his arms and a dome of fire burst from his fingertips, rapidly encasing him and expanding out, sending some soldiers back towards the gate and others straight into Jaendral and Lana's waiting forces.

The combined Shaylin army began fighting back against Ramades forces strongly now. A war cry went up amongst them as Jaendral gave the command to advance.

……

"All forces attack!" Jaendral yelled as the commotion began again. He did not understand what the Prince was doing, but if he was turning the tide of the battle then he did not care.

"You should reform a defensive line," said the voice of the young Lady Elane behind him.

"What?" he said, looking over his shoulder at the raven-haired woman.

"Rael will preoccupy Ramades," said Elane, "If you pull our forces back now, they will be safer. If they advance they will surely get slaughtered in the chaos." Jaendral looked at her blankly. What did she know about fighting battles? But when he looked down at his warriors he understood her point and conceded. They were moving back into fight again, leaping over the chasm Rael had driven between them and their foes, but were still suffering losses.

He sighed, and shouted out over the armies. "Men of the city! Pull back and defend yourselves!"

At his command, the Shaylin line receded. His fighters retreated back over the chasm line and began making a spiked spear-and-shield wall.

……

The Queen's General Jevilla Falsha looked out longingly over the battle from the high tower window, her hand stroking her sword hilt. She was restless, growing ever more impatient at how events were unfolding. Ramades' army had breached the gate, and his warriors were seeping through into the city. The main fighting core remained at the gate, where Jaendral's loyalists were valiantly struggling against the overwhelming might of Ramades berserkers. "We're losing the battle," she said, turning on her heel and pacing into the room.

Queen Lana looked up from her desk for just a moment and gave her a reassuring smile. She was deeply engrossed in books of ancient law, searching for anything that would help her to secure her position on the Amethyst Throne. "Don't worry, my dear," she said airily, "have faith in your Queen."

"I have faith in my sword," Jevilla growled, slamming her fists onto the desk. The books on the wooden surface leaped and a silver ring started spinning. "But you have me held here like a prisoner… Your Majesty."

Lana watched the ring spin, faster and faster, until eventually it came to rest flat on the desk. Then she looked up at Jevilla, straight faced and serious. "I have told you already, I will not lose my best commander fighting an illegitimate war. Your place is here by my side." From Lana's calm composure one would not have guessed that there was a battle taking place inside her city. Today the Queen wore dressed in a bright amethyst-purple dress, with silver stars in her waves of dark hair. It was obvious she was making a diplomatic statement with her choice of clothing.

"My place is out there with my women," said Jevilla angrily, "with our people! I could be out there winning this battle for you, but that man Jaendral is out there instead."

Lana looked up at Jevilla, "And he will die out there!" she exclaimed throwing up her hands with frustration. "He'll fall from the walls, get struck by an arrow, or else get run through by a blade, but mark my words he will die out there today. And Ramades too, the gods willing!" Lana looked back down at her notes. "If we're lucky that bloody fool princeling of Zelda's will meet his end as well, along with that peasant girl he drags around with him. She wears that snake around her neck as though it were her own! It's time she met the fate that awaits her."

Jevilla bowed her head. She supported Lana's claim to the throne, but she hated to hear such words spoken by her friend and mentor. "I understand, Your Majesty."

Lana looked up at Jevilla and her eyes softened. "This will all be over soon," she said, touching Jevilla's hand, "and I will be queen for many more years to come. Have faith in me."

……

So much blood, spilling out on the sandy ground. The air was rank with death. It was nauseating. Rael's blade spun in whirlwind fashion as he cut down his enemies. He was faster and stronger than all of them. No-one could lay a hand on him. His senses were heightened tenfold, such that he was utterly aware of everything around himself. He was in a semi-conscious state, barely in control of his own body and all the time hating himself for what he was doing.

……

Elane watched the from the battlements as Rael moved through Ramades' huge army, leaping through the air, spinning and kicking and slashing and throwing fire. "Rael…" she said quietly, "why?"

A splitting sound suddenly filled the sky, coming from the back of Ramades army. Slowly fighting ground almost to a halt as everyone turned toward the direction of the sound, all knowing what it mean. "The horns!" Jaendral exclaimed. "Ramades is surrendering… I can't believe it."

Elane looked out towards Rael. A wall of fire had sprung up form earth around him. From this distance, he seemed to shine with light. Rael was victorious and the battle was won.